# Salammbô — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert.

- [I: The Feast](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/i-the-feast.md): The Mercenaries, after the First Punic War, hold a lavish feast in the gardens of Hamilcar Barca. Tensions rise as they feel betrayed by Carthage, leading to violence, destruction, and sacrilege. Salammbô, Hamilcar's dau
- [At Sicca](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/ii-at-sicca.md): The Mercenaries depart Carthage for Sicca, where they await payment and grow restless. Their idleness leads to disputes and plotting, culminating in the arrival of the Suffet Hanno, whose attempt to placate them fails, i
- [III: Salammbô](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/iii-salammb.md): Salammbô performs a moonlit ritual on her palace terrace, expressing her deep devotion and longing for the goddess Tanith. She summons the high priest Schahabarim, who recounts the cosmogony of the gods but refuses to le
- [IV: Beneath the Walls of Carthage](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/iv-beneath-the-walls-of-carthage.md): The mercenary army, having marched from Sicca, encamps before Carthage, demanding full payment and more. Gisco is sent to negotiate and begins paying the soldiers, but Spendius and Autaritus stir up distrust among the Li
- [V: Tanith](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/v-tanith.md): Matho and Spendius infiltrate the temple of Tanith in Carthage to steal the sacred zaïmph, a divine veil that grants power to Carthage. Matho hesitates due to sacrilege but is persuaded by Spendius's arguments of revenge
- [Hanno](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/vi-hanno.md): Matho, consumed by desire for Salammbô, vents his frustration to Spendius, who remains indifferent. Narr'Havas arrives to ally with the Mercenaries, sealing a blood pact with Matho. The Barbarians incite rebellion across
- [VII: Hamilcar Barca](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/vii-hamilcar-barca.md): Hamilcar Barca returns to Carthage and learns of the recent events: the greed of the Ancients, the departure and return of the mercenaries, their demands, the capture of Gisco, and the theft of the Zaïmph. He secretly me
- [VIII: The Battle of the Macaras](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/viii-the-battle-of-the-macaras.md): Hamilcar Barca returns to Carthage and takes command, reforming the army and finances with ruthless efficiency. The Mercenaries, led by Matho and Spendius, prepare for battle but are defeated at the Macaras. Matho return
- [IX: In the Field](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/ix-in-the-field.md): Hamilcar, after his victory, attempts to pacify the tribes and isolate the Mercenaries, but faces political opposition in Carthage, where the populace and patricians turn against him. The city is gripped by fear, religio
- [X: The Serpent](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/x-the-serpent.md): Salammbô is deeply troubled by the declining health of her sacred python, which she sees as a reflection of her own spiritual and emotional turmoil after glimpsing the zaïmph. She oscillates between despair, pride, and l
- [XI: In the Tent](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xi-in-the-tent.md): Salammbô escapes from Gisco's curse and retrieves the zaïmph, fleeing with Schahabarim's servant through a desolate landscape. She reaches Matho's tent, where their passionate encounter unfolds. Matho dreams of a future 
- [XII: The Aqueduct](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xii-the-aqueduct.md): The Mercenaries besiege Carthage, and Spendius executes a daring plan to infiltrate the aqueduct. Meanwhile, Hamilcar struggles with political and military setbacks, including the defection of Tyrian towns and the loss o
- [XIII: Moloch](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xiii-moloch.md): The Barbarians prepare for a massive assault on Carthage, constructing siege engines and organizing their forces. Hamilcar reassures the Carthaginians, fortifies the city, and secretly secures his son Hannibal. The chapt
- [XIV: The Pass of the Hatchet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xiv-the-pass-of-the-hatchet.md): The Mercenaries make a desperate last stand in a fortified town as Hamilcar, Narr'Havas, and Hanno besiege them. Hanno is captured and nearly crucified, but Matho spares him temporarily. A fierce battle ensues, culminati
- [XV: Matho](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xv-matho.md): Carthage celebrates the victory and the wedding of Salammbô and Narr'Havas, while Matho is paraded through the streets and tortured to death. Salammbô, watching, is overcome with emotion and dies after touching the mantl

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/salammb_se/chapters